Thousands Of High School Students Protest Trump With Walkout

Thousands of students protested the victory of Donald Trump by staging walkouts at several California schools. Students at Berkeley High, Bishop O’Dowd, Albany High, Oakland Tech and San Jose’s Lincoln High School all took place in the protests.

Bishop O’Dowd officials issued a statement on the protests:

“Many of our O’Dowd students came to school this morning feeling frustrated, confused and powerless. Administrators discussed prior to school starting this morning our responsibility to provide safe spaces in classrooms for students to process their thoughts and emotions, adhering to principles of civility and mutual respect.”

“We advised teachers to allow students, regardless of viewpoint, to name their feelings, claim those feelings, and for teachers to validate our students’ perspectives and feelings.”

According to CBS SF Bay Area, Berkeley Unified School District spokesman Charles Burress estimated about half the school’s students were participating in the walkout, and classes were still being held for students wishing to attend.

“The district prefers that its students are in class and participating,” Burress said. “However, we do understand their concern and we take it very seriously when they feel passionate about political issues. We’re doing everything we can to support them.”

Students then marched to the University of California-Berkeley campus and were joined there by dozens of college students.